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What companies need to know when switching to LPG

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What you need to know when switching to LPG

Businesses operating off-grip are going to be challenged with the same commercial pressures as any other firm. Business owners will need to regularly be on the lookout for ways to improve their efficiencies, for example, as well as how to reduce overheads. They’ll need to monitor their profit margins as well, on top of always ensuring they meet increasingly stringent carbon reduction targets, if not exceed them.

Being wise with your choice of energy supply should help in regards to meeting carbon reduction targets. The average small business — those with between ten and 49 employees — across the UK forks out £19k on gas and electricity on an annual basis. With this staggering amount in mind, it surely makes sense to secure the very best off-grid, commercial energy source and deal. In fact, such a strategy couldn’t be more vital to your bottom line.

For many years, oil has been the choice of fuel for commercial businesses going off-grid and needing heat and power. However, LNG (liquified natural gas) and LPG (liquified petroleum gas) have started to become more popular as a result of rising environmental pressures and price volatility in recent years. Renewables are also proving more and more appealing to firms looking to take their energy supply off-grid.

Attitudes changing in this way shouldn’t be that surprising though. The likes of LPG provide a billion businesses and people across the globe with a versatile, reliable and secure supply – that’s both cleaner and more efficient than traditional fossil fuels. This means they benefit from swift cost savings and a lower carbon footprint to boot.

Still rely on oil, electric and solid fuel throughout your business and looking for a change? Then you’ll also be pleased to hear that switching to LPG is very easy and can be carried out with minimal downtime to operations. However, before you take that all-important step towards a more sustainable and cost-effective energy solution, LPG suppliers Flogas has put together this guide to help you make a fully-informed decision…

The definition of LPG

Meaning liquefied petroleum gas, LPG covers two variations of natural gas under a blanket term, these types of gas being Propane (C3H8) and Butane (C4H10). Both of these variations of gas are easily converted into a liquid by cooling or adding pressure. LPG is a natural by-product of natural gas and oil extraction (66%) and the refining of oil (34%). It’s an exceptional and efficient source of energy, that would otherwise go to waste if not captured.

How environmentally friendly is LPG?

LPG is cleaner than many other fossil fuels and can help users to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. It emits 33% less CO2 than coal and 15% less than heating oil, with virtually no black carbon (a major contributor to climate change). What’s more, it doesn’t pose a risk to soil or groundwater and releases less nitrogen oxides (NOx) than most other fossil fuels. The result for companies? A lower carbon footprint and a cleaner, more futureproof supply.

"The average small business those with between ten and 49 employees across the UK forks out 19k on gas and electricity on an annual basis. "Flogas LPG

How reliable is LPG?

Reliability certainly isn’t an issue when we’re talking about LPG. With LPG, it’s like having a gas mains supply, off the grid. It has multiple, major sources making it a widely available, secure energy source that’s in global abundance. There’s a strong network of depots and storage facilities across the UK, so you can always rely on a dependable supply. Also, tanks nowadays typically feature telemetry systems, allowing for remote monitoring and auto top-up, so you never run out.

What a switch from oil to LPG entails

You can switch from oil to LPG very quickly and entirely stress-free. At Flogas, for example, they’ll manage the whole process from start to finish – making the conversion seamless. A dedicated project manager will ensure you receive a bespoke solution to meet your company’s exact energy needs, and expert engineers will coordinate the installation (either above or below ground).

The money savings available to companies who switch to LPG

The bigger and more energy-intensive that your firm is, the greater the cost savings you should record when switching to LPG. We find this is particularly true for those still relying on oil. LPG has a higher calorific value per tonne than oil, making it more energy efficient. It is also cleaner, so requires far less maintenance – meaning businesses can reduce costly downtime.

LPG — is it suitable for my firm?

Due to it being an incredibly versatile type of fuel, LPG can be used in just about any situation. In fact, it has more than 1,000 uses. Available in bulk or in handy cylinders, it’s used across a vast array of commercial industries – from leisure, hospitality and agriculture through to the likes of industrial heating and manufacturing processes, including steam generation. Additionally, it can be used as efficient forklift truck fuel or to run greener vehicle fleets. You can find an exhaustive list on the UKLPG website.

Factoring in LNG

An acronym meaning liquefied natural gas, LNG is gas which has been cooled to the incredibly low temperature of -162ºC. This makes it extremely compact and light to store and transport. It’s a particularly popular option amongst more energy-intensive off-grid companies (across all sectors), for example, those using a high amount of oil (kerosene, gas oil or HFO) to drive larger manufacturing or industrial processes. It is also ideal for large logistics operations, such as road haulage and shipping, as well as for powering emergency backup generators at large usage sites.

Sources from UKLPG, WLPGA and Comparethemarket.com

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